Home could be Museum in line for award
split into flats APROPOSAL has been submit- ted to convert an existing four- storey terraced house in 19 Hardy Street, Maidstone, into a one-bedroom flat on the lower ground floor with a three-bed- room house above. A supporting statement for
the planning application, which will be determined by Maidstone Council, said: “The property has a reasonable sized rear garden which allows for it to be divided to give both the flat and house a reasonable ex- ternal amenity space.”
Grievance statistics MAIDSTONE Borough Council has revealed the annual totals for the number of compromise agreements relating to disputes, grievances and incidents with members of staff. In response to a Freedom of Information re- quest, the council said there was one compromise agree- ment in 2005-6, three in 2006-7 and two in the year 2009-10.
Café conversion JHAPAT Bushel has applied to convert ground floor living ac- commodation into a café at 53 Sandling Road,Maidstone. His supporting statement says
the site was a restaurant before becoming living accommoda- tion. Maidstone Council will determine the application.
THE new East Wing of Maid- stone Museum and the Bentlif Art Gallery has been shortlisted for another niche design award. The EastWing, which opened following much controversy earlier this year, has been nom- inated in the architecture cate- gory of the Elle Decoration British Design Awards 2012. The awards are sponsored by
the Daily Telegraph and John Lewis, and the winners are cho- sen by public vote, with voters having the chance towin £5,000 in John Lewis vouchers. London-based Hugh Broughton Architects designed the East Wing, which has already won a highly-coveted RIBA award. The wing includes two golden shingle and glass-clad exten-
sions and a new gallery space for the museum’s Japanese art collection, and was designed to interact with the original Eliza- bethan building. This is the 11th year of the
Elle BDAs, which recognise useful, beautiful and original new work by British designers for UK and international brands.
Alert after ‘sales’ calls PEOPLE have been warned about giving away per- sonal details to alleged salesmen over the phone. David Graham, vice chair of trustees at Maid-
stone Salvation Army, raised his concerns after a man claiming to be selling security goods called him from a withheld number. He said: “If a number is withheld and someone
is asking about personal house security, they can catch people unawares, especially older people. “If the caller has your phone number, the chances are that they may also have your address, and by telling them about your house alarms etc youmay be making yourself an easy target for bur- glars.”
Your views on police KENTPolice Authoritywent to Sainsbury’s in Maidstone to find out the viewsof the public on policing in the local area. Shoppers were asked for their biggest policing priority for anti-social behaviour, crime and visibility. The majority of shoppers did not have any issues in the local area. Some areas of concern included teenagers hanging around on the streets, and people being drunk or rowdy in public places. Crime issueswere also discussed, and the main is- sueswere burglary and vandalism. The biggest priority on policing visibility
was to see more police on foot or bike patrol and to know who their local neighbourhood officer is. OnNovember15, the public willelectapo-
lice and crime commissioner who will be ac- countable for howcrime is tackled in Kent.
School parking A PLAN has been submitted to use three grass verges for more parking at Park Way Primary School in South Park Road. A statement said the scheme would add 21 parking spaces. It said: “Our car park currently provides 19 spaces for at least 40 permanent members of staff. We also host events for the wider community throughout the day. “At present, cars are being parked all over the place due to lack of space, and delivery driv- ers are having increasing diffi- culty delivering to us.” KCC will determine the plan- ning application.
24 Town
Kent Police Authority member Tom Gates and PCSO Dave Earl at Sainsbury’s inMaidstone
Ofsted praise for childminder SHEPWAY childminder Angela Smith, who operates from Derby Road, has been graded as good in an Ofsted report. Ofsted found Angela had an excellent range of resources which
she used creatively to help children reach their potential. Safe- guarding was given very high priority. She had a strong partnership with parents and worked hard to
make all children and their families feel welcome. The children were “squealing with laughter” and were making
good progress in all areas of learning during the inspection. They were well prepared for school and future learning because of their experiences with the childminder, the report said.
Bedsits plan agreed MAIDSTONE Council’s plan- ning committee granted con- sent to convert a dormitory in the old St Philip’s School build- ing in Melville Road, Maid- stone, into 10 bedsit flats.
Windows refused A RETROSPECTIVE applica- tion for UPVC windows at 23 Brewer Street, has been refused as they were said to have an adverse effect on the Holy Trin- ity Church conservation area.
Last year’s winner in the ar- chitecture category was another gallery – the 5,000 sq metre Hepworth gallery inWakefield, West Yorkshire, which is Britain’s largest purpose-built gallery outside London. Maidstone Museums man-
ager, Simon Lace, said: “This is another great coup for the mu- seum and for Maidstone. It will spread the name of our county town and the excellence of our museum and heritage far and wide if we are chosen as the winner." Voting closes in October,with
the winner being announced in December. To vote, visit
rebelsincontrol.com/ bda/2012/2012shortlist-10-
hughbroughtonarchitects.html
Pollution order at flats MAIDSTONE Council has requested that meas- ures are taken to limit air and noise pollution for prospective residents of new flats in the town. The planning department granted permission
for empty retail units on the ground floor and basement of 4Mill Street and 65 High Street to be converted into two duplex flats. But conditions were made demanding thatmiti-
gation measures are introduced to improve the quality of life for occupiers of the corner
site.Ade- cision notice said: “Mitigation should include a scheme of acoustic protection sufficient to ensure internal noise levels no greater than 30 dB in bed- rooms and living roomswith windows closed.”
Fitness centre
for Broadway A FITNESS centre could be es- tablished at the Broadway Shopping Centre, Maidstone. Elise Sherrin has submitted a change of use application for Urban Crew Fitness to move into premises at unit 8, which are currently reserved for retail use. A supporting statement said:
“We would like to change the use of these premises in light of them being vacant for over six years, and keep the unit in theme with other businesses within said building. “We are in communication
with the other two leisure busi- nesses already established there, to ensure that we can all work together to provide a com- plementary range of health and fitness facilities. “The location is key for us, as
we wish to encourage commu- nity health and fitness pro- grammes and use the nearby facility of Whatman Park in as- sociation with the Friends of Whatman’s Park committee. “We feel this will add to the current theme of the businesses which occupy the lower units of the building, and be benefi- cial to professionals and mem- bers of the public alike.” Maidstone Council will de- termine the planning applica- tion.
You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk
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